listen

American  

[lis-uhn] / ˈlɪs ən /

verb (used without object)

1. to give attention with the ear; attend closely for the purpose of hearing; give ear.

2. to pay attention; heed; obey (often followed byto ).

   Children don't always listen to their parents.

3. to wait attentively for a sound (usually followed byfor ).

   to listen for sounds of their return.

4. Informal. to convey a particular impression to the hearer; sound.

   The new recording doesn't listen as well as the old one.

---

verb (used with object)

1. Archaic. to give ear to; hear.

verb phrase

1. listen in

   1. to listen to a radio or television broadcast.

      Listen in tomorrow for the names of the lottery winners.

   2. to overhear a conversation or communication, especially by telephone; eavesdrop.

      Someone was listening in to his private calls.

listen British  

/ ˈlɪsən /

verb

1. to concentrate on hearing something

2. to take heed; pay attention

   I told you many times but you wouldn't listen

---

Related Words

See hear.

Other Word Forms

• listener noun
• relisten verb
• unlistening adjective

Etymology

Origin of listen

First recorded before 950; Middle English lis(t)nen, Old English hlysnan; cognate with Middle High German lüsenen, Swedish lyssna; akin to list ⁵

Example Sentences

In politics it is particularly important to demonstrate publicly as a group when the electorate feels their representatives aren’t listening to them.

From The Wall Street Journal

Still, I found myself listening attentively to the warning Miller was issuing about buying into the salesman ethos.

From Los Angeles Times

Another listens to the show’s audio while working out and showering.

From The Wall Street Journal

Hundreds have been paid compensation for having their voicemails listened to.

From BBC

"We submitted a policy and proposal" to the government, but "they never listened", she told AFP.

From Barron's

Related Words

• accept
• admit
• attend
• get
• observe
• take notice
• tune in